Steam generator



Oct. 14, 1941. J. x. DlCKMAN STEAM GENERATOR Filed Feb. 8, 1941 Inventor Jacw f p/c/Mafi A ttorney P atentecl ()ct. l4,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM GENERATOR Jacob I. Dickman, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to I Simon Dickman and David Dickman, both of Los Angeles, Calif.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to steam generators, and has for the primary object the provision of a portable device of this character especially adapted for use in steaming fabrics for cleaning and similar purposes and includes a construction whereby dry steam may be quickly produced and which is essential or important in cleaning or steaming certain kinds of fabrics and the production of said dry steam may be economically accomplished with moisture reduced to a minimum.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a steam generator constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates as an entirety a steam generator especially adapted for economically and quickly generating dry steam to be used for steaming and cleaning of fabrics. The generator 5 is of a portable nature so that it can be conveniently carried from one place to another and consists of a casting in which are formed cylindrical chambers 6, I and 8 joined by a central partition or web 9. The cylinders are open at each end and the upper ends are closed by a head In secured on the casting in any suitable manner. The other or lower ends of the cylinders are closed by a bottom wall I I secured in place in any suitable manner. The partition or web 9 terminates short of the bottom wall I l to form a space between itself and the bottom wall to accommodate an electric heating unit 12 of a conventional construction. The bottom wall I I has a screw threaded opening in which the electric heating unit may be threaded and held in abutting engagement with the wall of the web or partition.

In arranging the electric heating unit l2 in the manner specified and shown in Figure 3 places the same in direct communication with each of the chambers.

The wall of the chamber 6 adjacent the bottom wall I I has mounted therein a nozzle l3 equipped with a control valve 14 arranged exteriorly of the chamber and to which a water supply is connected by a hose or some other similar conduit.

The purpose of the nozzle l3 and the valve I4 is to direct water in controlled amounts against the electric heater for the purpose of generating steam in the chamber 6. The steam in the chamber 6 may pass therefrom into the chamber 1 by way of a port I 5 connecting said chambers adjacent the head [0. The steam entering the chamber 1 will contact the electric heater and consequently be further heated to remove moisture therefrom. This dry steam in the chamber '1 may pass therefrom into the chamber 8 by way of a port l6 located substantially intermediate the ends of the chamber 8. The dry steam is further heated in the chamber 8 and may pass therefrom by way of an outlet fitting ll arranged in the wall of the chamber 8 adjacent the head l0 and to which a flexible conduit I8 is connected.

Thus it will be seen that the steam leaving the chamber 8 by way of the fitting l1 and conduit. l8 will be practically free of all moisture placing the steam in proper condition for the treatment or steaming of fabrics especially of delicate construction which may be damaged or ruined if subjected to an excessive amount of moisture.

A device of the kind described and shown is very useful in a steaming establishment whereby the operator can conveniently move the device from one place to another and readily set it up for operation by simply plugging in the electric heater to an ordinary electric output and the connecting of the nozzle or the valve thereof to a water supply. The water directed by the nozzle in controlled amounts against the heater will be substantially in spray form so that the water contacting the electric heater will readily convert into steam.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, (it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a steam generator, a casting having a plurality of chambers, an electric heater arranged in said casting with a portion of the heater extending into each of said chambers, said chambers having restricted ports providing communication from one to another, means for introducing water into one of the chambers for discharge against said heater for the generation of steam, and a steam outlet means connected to another of said chambers.

2. In a steam generator, a casting having a plurality of cylindrical chambers open at each end with said chambers separated from each other by a partition terminating short of one end. of the casting, a head closing one end of the casting, a bottom wall closing the other end of the casting and having a threaded opening, an electric heater threaded in said opening against the partition with portions of the heater extending into each 0i said chambers, said chambers having restricted ports providing communication from one to another, means for introducing water into one of said chambers for discharge against said heater for the generation of steam, and a steam outlet means connected to another of said chambers.

3- In a team en r tor, ca in having a lu a o lind tal chambers o en a each end ith sa d chamb r sepa ted i on; ea h othe y a Pei-"fitter; termi a in hort at one end of the casting, a head closing one end of the casting, a bottom wall closing the other end of the casting and having a threaded opening, an electric heater threaded in said opening against the partition with portions of the heater extending into each of said chambers, said chambers having restricted ports providing communication from one to another, a water supply nozzle including a hand controlled valve mounted in the Walls of one of said chambers for directing Water against the heater for the generation of steam, and a steam outlet means connected to another of the chambers.

4. In a steam generator, a casting having a partition separating the same into a plurality of chambers, an electric heater forming part of the partition, portions of the heater being exposed in each chamber for heating the same, said chambers having restricted ports providing communication between the chambers, a discharge pipe in one chambe d an i tak pe n not er c ambe JACOB I. DICKMAN. 

